LOWER GWYNEDD — When Dennis Miranda was 8 years old, man landed on the moon. Miranda spent so much time looking outside the window during class that his teacher called him “Mr. Moon Man.”

But what he was really looking at were the birds.

Now, Miranda is taking over the position of executive director of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, and he seems just as interested at what’s outside his window at the watershed’s headquarters in Ambler.

Miranda grew up in New Jersey but was recently working in Gainsville, Fla., as the executive director of the Florida Trail Association. Now he’s back in the Northeast and said he was happy to get back to his roots.

“I’m home, doing what I love to do, with a great organization, a great staff and a great cause that has no end,” he said.

In his new position, Miranda said he is looking forward to educating new generations of people to embrace the outdoors as well as preserve the national heritage of the Wissahickon Valley. Other concerns include monitoring water resources, preserving open space along the Wissahickon Creek and managing natural resources for future generations.

The need for water monitoring is not only important for the local area, but also vital for Philadelphia at large. According to Miranda, the city obtains about 10 percent to 15 percent of its potable water from the creek.

Miranda said the suburban waterway has experienced dramatic suburban growth in the past 20 years, which makes it harder for natural systems to survive in a pristine state. In his new position, Miranda will work with constituencies, government agencies and educators to find ways to improve water quality and preserve the waterway.

“Only with an enlightened citizenry that understands how we are at a crossroads with water resources, that supports programs and initiatives to improve water quality, will we ever succeed,” Miranda said.

For personal and professional reasons, the new executive director was drawn to the watershed, whose 56-year-old legacy he admired.

“Given the privilege of having a great organization with a great legacy and a great staff, who would not want to be here?” he said.

It’s not the first time that Miranda has worked with watersheds. From 2004 to 2010, he was the executive director of the Rahway River Association, a conservation organization in Northern New Jersey that sought to protect the natural resources of the Rahway River Watershed. Miranda said the challenges he faced and overcame there were enjoyable and successful experiences.

The St. Peter’s University graduate said it was almost incongruous that a “city-slicker” from the Hudson County, N.J., had chosen the natural world over the urban.

Miranda rattled off a litany of reasons why the community should care about the watershed — its Baltimore Orioles, turtles, different species of flowers, plants, butterflies and birds. He said they all cling to the watershed’s natural resources.

“We still live in a natural world,” he said. “We are still in awe at seeing these things like we were born yesterday. Every day I see them, it’s a new day. It’s not old news. I’m grateful for the fact that we can still enjoy these resources today. And we like to think that the work we do here is an investment in the future, so that future generations can enjoy these values as much as we do today.”

Miranda said people’s interest in the environment wanes and waxes with the status of the economy. In poor economic times, people are more interested in putting food on the table and about their own economic survival than the environment, while in more prosperous times, people have an overwhelming sense of support for the environment, he said.

Even with the recent economic pitfalls, Miranda said he still sees a local interest in preserving the environment. He gave the example of the watershed’s recent reforesting campaign, whose contributions totaled more than $100,000.

“It underscores that they love this area. They want to see it in a natural state, and they want to see us work toward that end,” he said.

Miranda, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, said he came from modest means.

“My life has been something of a journey,” he said, referencing his drive of self-actualization. “I have lived my dreams. I enjoy what I do. And I’m as passionate about my career today and the things I’m doing today as when I was Mr. Moon Man.”